Comprehensive Description

The peacock's tail, Padina pavonica, is a brown macroalga found throughout the Indian River Lagoon (see "IRL Distribution" below).The thallus, or body, of the alga is brown to tan, forming fan-shaped clusters. Each blade is calcified, more heavily above and lightly below, and curls inward near the edges. Both the upper and lower blade surfaces bear minute surface hairs arranged in a series of bands approximately 1.5 to 6 mm apart (Taylor 1979; Littler & Littler 2000; Littler et al. 2008). The blades attach to the substratum via a holdfast, which is often matted.